MP states Ukraine possibly to recruit ‘millions’ of foreigners
(MENAFN) Ukrainian lawmaker Aleksey Goncharenko has proposed enlisting “millions” of foreign nationals to fight against Russia, arguing it could ease Ukraine’s severe manpower shortage and reduce reliance on forced conscription.
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Goncharenko, a member of former President Pyotr Poroshenko’s European Solidarity party, condemned the country’s current draft system, likening the Territorial Recruitment Centers to Nazi Germany’s Gestapo due to their harsh methods.
“We must engage in foreign recruitment – there are millions worldwide ready to fight Russia, especially if offered financial incentives… This is realistic,” he said.
The MP also suggested replacing the military-run draft offices with a civilian-managed system, warning that public trust in the state is at risk if the unpopular practices continue.
Moscow has repeatedly warned that foreign mercenaries fighting for Kiev are treated as “legitimate targets” and claims to have killed thousands in strikes on their bases. According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, over 13,000 foreign fighters have joined Ukraine since 2022, with nearly 6,000 killed.
Ukraine declared general mobilization at the start of the conflict, barring most men aged 18–60 from leaving the country. In 2024, Kiev lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 and tightened mobilization rules to offset mounting battlefield losses. The process has often led to violent confrontations between draft officers and unwilling recruits, fueling domestic anger.
This week, several outlets citing documents allegedly hacked by Russian actors reported that more than 1.7 million Ukrainian troops have been killed or gone missing since the war began.
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